Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-01-29
AxrER.s BOYS.

They Arc . Very Bad Lot, but the Old Man
Loves Them Dearly.
Atlanta Constitution.
"Baxters boys are bad set"
This remark was made to me when old
man Baxter was pointed out to me for
the first time. Everybody had q good
word for the father, but it was the
unanimous verdict that the sons were fit
only for the penitentisry and the gal
lows.
OF course I jumped to the conclusion
that old man Baxters hair was prema-
turely gray, and that the numerous inee
craven deep Ia his face were stamped
there by sorrow and care. As 1 began
to know him better, his tender heart, bis
unfalling patience, and his sunny temper
drew me to him, and often found my
self thinking bitterly and resentfu.ly OF
his boys.
Out of consideration for the old man l
carefully avoided family topics, but one
Sunday, when stopped to chat with
him in front of his cottage, he sudden
~ remarked:
81 got letter from Tom this morn
ing"
'Tomr' repeated, inquiringly.
'Yes; one Of my boys" was the reply;
"but you are newcomer here, 80 OF
course you never met Tom"
'.No," I answered in some embarrass.
meut II hope he is well"
"Wen enough, but in trouble" said
Baxter, with q sigh. II tell you the
way that boy has been imposed on is a
shame. He has had q run Of bad luck
all his life. You know they charged
him with forging check, and run him
off from here?'
told him that I had understood that
there was some trouble.
'.Yes, sir; it's fact" continued my
companion, Indignantly, land although
I raised the money and settled the
check matter, they actually indicted the
lad, and he had to leave. He first went
to Texas, but there were some bad fell
lows out there who wanted to get rid of
him, and 80 they charged him with steal
ing horse. I don't remember all the
facts, but, Of course, I know that he
didn't steal the animal. However, they
had it their own way, and he had to get.
Well, when he left there, he went to In
dian Territory, and now he writes me
that he's hiding out from the United
States marshals. Somebody's been i'm
posing upon him again, reckon"
Wishing to change the conversation, I
said something about taking walk for
my health.
THAT was Jim's idea," said Mr.. Ba1-
ter with pleased smile. "Jlm's anoth-
or son of mine," he explained. you've
heard of Jim?"
admitted that I had heard of him,
but did not think it necessary to add
that had been told that he was cold
blooded, murderous cut throat.
"You ought to have Jim here to walk
with you. But, Lord bless you, Jim
wouldnn. get along with these people.
They we're always after hin"
"Imposing upon him." suggested.
Eyes, Just so. Now Jim was q little
how-come- you-so one day, and the bar
keeper refused to sell him drink. It
was the meanest thing that man could
do under the circumstances, because the
man might have known shat Jim was
bound to have his way. Well, Jim, he
Just pulled out his pistol and chot the
barkeeper dead in his tracks, and helped
himself to a drink. I advised the people
not to make any fuss over it, as they all
knew Jim and his peculiarities, but the
devil got into them, and nothing would
do but an inquest and all that sort of
thing. So mortgsged my house and
let the boy have several hundred dollars,
and he went off out west"
"Is ne getting along wells" I asked.
I'm afraid not. People don't under
stand Jim. They don't make any al
lowances. He's as kind hearted as a
baby, but he won't be imposed upon.
Once out in New Mexico Jim borrow
q mans tooth brush, and when he re-
turned it to him, what do you think the
fellow didY Why, he actually threw it
away. Yes, he did; he threw it away.
Jim was iu for peace, but he couldn't
stand it. He drew his pistol and blew
daylight through the man, and then he
had to move again. I think he's gone
to Join Joe. Ever hear of Joer'
mumbled something non commital.
"You ought to know Joe. He's as
hind hearted as Jim and as honest and
true hearted as Tom. But Joe's forget
ful. That's the great drawback with
joe"
'Forgetful?" said I.
"Yes, that's what's the matter with
Joe. People don't understand it, and SO
they've got him indicted in five states
for bigamy."
"Whst has bis forgetfulness got to do
with thst?" I asked.
"Why, sur, great deal. You see, Joe
travels heap. Among new scenes and
new scquaintsnces he forgets things.